Covenant Rolls To A Pair Of USA South Wins

Facing a pair of opponents that defeated the Covenant volleyball team last season, the Lady Scots used complete team efforts to earn a pair of four-set victories over LaGrange and Piedmont on Saturday at Richter Gym in LaGrange.

Covenant knocked off LaGrange 3-1 (25-12, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19) before besting Piedmont 3-1 (25-12, 25-19, 27-29, 25-16) to end the day.

The wins extend Covenant's winning streak to five matches as the Lady Scots move to 8-6 overall and remain undefeated in conference play at 3-0.

MATCH ONE: Covenant 3, LaGrange 1

In a rematch of a USA South Tournament quarterfinal last year, one in which LaGrange won in four sets, Covenant had three players record double-digit kills and used that to take a four-set victory over the host Panthers.

Hannah Harris led the attack with a career-high 15 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, while Ginny Moore had 14 kills and Jessica Seehorn 13. Moore also added 19 digs and three block assists for her 10th double-double of the season. Seehorn also had a double-double with her 11 digs. As a team, Covenant hit at a .222 clip and tallied at least 12 kills in each of the four sets. 

Schuyler Moore had 44 assists and 13 digs. Hannah Stewart registered 12 digs and Sara Delk had 11 in the win.

It was a close first set, until Covenant went on a 9-1 run to take a 23-11 lead and Harris had two kills during the stretch. Consecutive kills from Seehorn and Chloe Storm gave the Lady Scots a 25-12 set win. Storm finished the match with seven kills. In the second, LaGrange made a run midway through the set and the host Panthers would even the match at 1-1.

Over the final two sets, Covenant would tally 14 kills as a team in each and big runs highlighted the set victories. In the third, the Lady Scots rattled off an 11-2 spurt to break an early 6-6 tie before cruising to the set win. In the fourth set it was a 12-4 run that gave Covenant a 16-8 advantage before the Lady Scots clinched the match later in the frame.

LaGrange (7-4, 1-1 USA South) got 11 kills from Emily Arnold and 21 assists from Lauren Sanders. Amanda Beatty led all players with her 25 digs.

MATCH TWO: Covenant 3, Piedmont 1

Against Piedmont, Ginny Moore totaled a season-best 20 kills to go along with 26 digs to lead Covenant to a four-set victory.

Moore hit .230 for the match and also added five service aces in the victory. Harris and Seehorn had nine kills apiece, with Seehorn recording 17 digs. Schuyler Moore topped 40 assists for a second straight match with her 41 assists coupled with 12 digs. Stewart (18) and Delk (10) accumulated double-digit dig totals for Covenant.

Much like the first match against LaGrange, Covenant turned a tight first set into a breakaway. The Lady Scots scored 11 straight points to go ahead 20-8 after a Seehorn kill. Allie Jakes and Seehorn had two kills apiece during the run.

Covenant extended the match lead to 2-0 with a 25-19 set two victory. The Lady Scots had a match-best 15 kills in the frame, but had to pull away midway through to earn the set win. A Ginny Moore kill tied the set at 15-15 before a Piedmont error followed by a Seehorn kill gave Covenant a 17-15 edge. The lead grew to five before Harris ended the set with a kill.

Piedmont took the Lady Scots to extra points in the third set and were able to stay alive in the match with a 29-27 victory. The fourth set was controlled by Covenant as the Lady Scots led most of the way. Covenant methodically extended its lead to seven at 21-14 on a Harris kill before another Harris kill ended the match.

Covenant held a 51-34 edge in total kills. Piedmont (5-4, 0-1 USA South)got seven kills from Cece Cogliano and 13 assists from Jenna Wendel. Haley Hixon tallied 26 digs in the loss.

UP NEXT

Covenant will travel to Atlanta on Thursday to face the No. 4-ranked Emory Eagles. First serve is set for 7 p.m.